JAKARTA. The plan of Muhammadiyah to contest government over tax amnesty has led government to lobby the Islamic mass organization to drop the plan. 

On Wednesday (14/9), Finance Minister Sri Mulyani accompanied with Chief of Presidential Staff Teten Masduki and Director General of Taxation Ken Dwijugiasteadi visited office of Muhammadiyah's central board in Jakarta. 

During the 3-hour meeting, Sri Mulyani explained about the objectives and benefits of the tax amnesty program to Muhammadiyah's leaders. “However, we did not discuss about the judicial review”, said Chairman of Muhammadiyah's Central Committee for Higher Education, Research, and Development Affairs Lincolin Arsyad after the meeting.

Finance Minister tried to avoid journalists questions by going out through back door. Both Teten Masduki and Ken  Dwijugiasteadi also refused to explain about the meeting. “Please ask directly to the Minister”, said Teten.

At a certain level, the explanation seemed to affect Muhammadiyah's point to view about tax amnesty, even though the organization has not yet clearly shown the change of its attitude over the program. Lincolin admitted that Sri Mulyani's explanation has resolved the organization's anxiety over tax amnesty program. Before the discussion, Muhammadiyah considered the program has deviated from its initial purposes.

Lincolin said that the discourse to file judicial review to Constitutional Court (MK) has not yet become Muhammadiyah's official stance.

As is known, previously Chairman of Muhammadiyah's Central Committee for Legal and Human Rights Affairs Syaiful Bahri and Head of Legal Division at Muhammadiyah's Central Committee Busyro Muqoddas have asked government to postpone the implementation of tax amnesty program. 

Previously, according to the Muhammadiyah's leaders, the target of tax amnesty program has deviated from conglomerates, who park their assets abroad to low income people. In addition to the deviation, the formulation of the Law on Tax Amnesty was not transparent and did not involve academic review. (Translator: Muhammad Farid)

Editor: Sanny Cicilia